Girls cheerful over performances in AYFL, Dolphins' showcases

Gary Curreri/Correspondent

FLIGHT PATH: Tamarac senior squad member Adrianna DiPietro demonstrated her skills and determination to succeed as her team won the Small Division title during the recent American Youth Football League cheerleading competition at the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

FLIGHT PATH: Tamarac senior squad member Adrianna DiPietro demonstrated her skills and determination to succeed as her team won the Small Division title during the recent American Youth Football League cheerleading competition at the University of Miami in Coral Gables. (Gary Curreri/Correspondent)

Tamarac's Adrianna DiPietro and her cheerleading teammates were precision in motion en route to winning a team title during recent American Youth Football League (AYFL) competition at the University of Miami (UM) in Coral Gables.

It was all in a day's work for the 13-year-old DiPietro, a member of the Cougars' senior squad that took first place in the Small Division and went on to compete at the inaugural Miami Dolphins' cheerleading championships at Nova Southeastern University (NSU).

"I like everything about (cheerleading)," said DiPietro, an eighth-grader at Millennium Middle School. "I like stunting, dancing and being part of a team."

Looking into large crowds, like those at UM and NSU, can be daunting.

"It is hard not to focus on the crowd, so you look at the judges and try to get their attention," said DiPietro, who hopes to cheer in high school and college. "The best part is being part of a team and always having someone there in your corner."

Sunrise's Ashley Raymond, 10, is a member of Sunrise Gators' cheerleading, and in the UM attraction she and her teammates were competing in the Junior Small Division.

"This is really fun because when I cheer, it makes me so happy," said Raymond, a fifth-grader at Nob Hill Elementary School. "When I learn new things I am so excited. Sometimes (being a flier) can be scary, but when you hit it and all the people smile and clap, (it's a nice feeling)."

Another fifth-grader, Cooper City 10-year-old Hailey Fuller, cheered with her Cowboys' team in the Junior Prep Medium Division. She attends Griffin Elementary School.

The first-year cheerleader loves the spotlight.

"This is my way of expressing my feelings on the mat, and I'm not nervous even with a big crowd," she said.

Cooper City's Michelle Longerbeam, who presides over the cheerleading arm of the AFYL and is herself a judge, has been involved in the sport for more than two decades. There were more than 1,000 competing from the 13 cities in the AYFL team championships.

"The competitive aspect has evolved tremendously," Longerbeam said. "They used to just do a cheer and dance and now they do stunting, gymnastics and tumbling. It has really changed through the years and has gone to a new level."

Coral Springs' Julianna Cimaglia, 12, was among the competitors with the Coral Springs Chargers in the Junior Prep Large Division challenge. She likes that the sport is fun and keeps her active.

"It pushes me and I like that," said the sixth-grader at Forest Glen Middle School. "When they throw me up in the air, it is really awesome. It is like being on a roller coaster."

At Nova Southeastern University, more than 1,000 youth ages 4-15 participated in the first-ever event from not only the American Youth Football League but also the Gold Coast Pop Warner, Florida Youth Football, Miami Xtreme and National Youth Football leagues.

"This event is new to our youth programs lineup, but we've had a tremendous response," Miami Dolphins' Youth Programs Coordinator Cassy Congemi said. "We have more than 60 teams here, and the spirit level is high. The Dolphins cheerleaders are here, escorting groups through the rotations and taking photos. That brings an extra element for these young girls looking up to the Dolphins' cheerleaders."

"It was very exciting," said Kim Valldeperas, in her 15th year as cheer commissioner of the Coral Springs Chargers' organization and the coach of the Juniors 11, 12, 13 team. "We did have a feeling that it was possible going in, but we felt it was harder this time not knowing who we were cheering against."